Hebrew Roots is a combination of valentine, cri de coeur and docent tour of one of the world’s most richly documented and utterly unusual languages. Showing Hebrew as so much more than something Jewish kids learn a little of to get through their bar/bat mitzvahs and seders, Benstein revels in Hebrew’s genius and beauty as the vehicle of a majestic history, in both its liturgical Biblical form and its bustling modern Israeli one.”

Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes is a tour de force. It’s witty and readable yet profound and unforgettable. Benstein emerges as a modern-day Eliezer Ben-Yehuda—with touches of Henry Higgins and the Pied Piper thrown in—championing the Hebrew language as the “key to Jewish identity and culture.” Highly recommended for all, but especially for teachers ready to launch a grassroots revolution bringing Jews back to their language and culture.”

In this delightful romp through the cultural history of the Hebrew language and Jewish literary creativity, Benstein compellingly demonstrates how a basic understanding of Hebrew can enrich our Jewish lives.”

Humor, history, personalities and wisdom: Benstein offers all of these in great big doses as he leads us on a wondrous tour of the Hebrew language and the ways it has shaped the contours of our culture in every age and place Jews have wandered. In the process, Hebrew has given voice to our aspirations, our longings, and our determination. Hebrew Roots is a book to savor—at times funny, at times serious, but always offering a window into the delicate dance of a people, its homes, and its language.

Just as children learn about music or art, Hebrew appreciation should be a subject in every Jewish school. This is the text book. It shows how Hebrew connects Jews around the world to each other and to our sacred texts, values, and state. And it highlights linguistic connections – between ancient and modern Hebrew, between Hebrew and other languages, and among diverse Hebrew words that share three-consonant roots. As its title implies, Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes demonstrates the centrality of Hebrew for the Jewish past, present, and future, and it does so using profound metaphor and whimsical wordplay in both Hebrew and English. Scholars, educators, and anyone with an interest in Judaism, language, or society will find this book delightfully enriching.